Combination cattle oiler and scratcher



June 12, 1962 w. E. FLEMING 3,038,445

COMBINATION CATTLE OILER AND SCRATCHER Filed Oct. 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 12, 1962 w. E. FLEMING 3,038,445

COMBINATION CATTLE OILER AND SCRATCHER Filed Oct. 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 sf tates This invention relates to stock oilers for cattle and hogs and particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a cattle oiler of greater efiiciency, requiring less maintenance and having greater versatility.

Cattle oilers of the prior art have required much maintenance because of the quantity of moving parts involved in the mechanisms that have been used for controlling the rate of flow of the fluid. Most oilers have operated on the principle of having a chain or cable disposed in a position where the cattle, in bumping against the chain or cable in the process of scratching themselves, tend to cause a movement of the parts of the mechanism for measuring out the flow of the oil proporrtional to the amount of bumping of the chain or cable by the cattle.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a stock oiler, the fluid liow control portion of which has no moving parts, whereby there are no moving parts to wear out and require maintenance, as obtained through my concept of having the entire oil reservoir mounted to move by rotation on sturdy stub axles whereby it is the rotation of the entire reservoir itself, which is strong, not a movement of the necessarily relatively weak fluid flow control elements of the prior art which controls the flow in my oiler.

A particular object is to provide the advantages just described through my concept of the use of a vented Archimedean screw inside an oil reservoir itself to lift the [fluid from the bottom of the reservoir to the top and thereby to the outside without moving parts in the reservoir and oil lifting areas of the invention.

A particular object is to provide a ratchet mechanism mounted on the frame and cooperating with the rotating oil reservoir which prevents the oil reservoir from rotating in a reverse direction, permitting it only to rotate in such a forward direction as will cause oil to travel up the Archimedean screw, as a flow in a reserve direction would cause the flow to first go upwardly and then back downwardly with a net result of much less oil flow than is desired because it is the habit of cattle to move under scratcher first forwardly, then backwardly.

A further object of the invention is to provide an absorbent padding around the reservoir which has an opening thereinto for oil flow and further provided with my concept of an adjustable compression band for closing the outer end of the opening through the absorbent material whereby by adjusting the compression band, a greater or lesser quantity of oil can be permitted to proportionately flow either into the absorbent material or out past the band over the outer sides of the absorbent material for thereby controlling the rate of flow of the oil.

Still another object is to provide a cattle oiler, the stock-engaging portion of which is disposed at an inclination with respect to the ground whereby it can service stock of all sizes whereby, for example, hogs can scratch against the lower portion while cattle are using the upper portion, although I am aware that an oiler exists in the prior art with an inclined outer surface whereby it is specifically an object of this invention to provide this advantage with a cylindrical reservoir rather than a conical reservoir as in the prior art because of the greater economy of manufacture possible with a cylindrical reservoir and with its lesser amount of material.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a portable oiler having a frame, the lower parts of which atenr serve as skids to permit the oiler to be towed by a tractor, for example, from a feed lot to a pasture.

Yet another object is to provide an oiler which is much more durable by eliminating the breakage that has been the most common problem in oilers, especially because cattle are large animals and often weigh 1300 pounds or more.

A further object of the invention is to provide an oiler as described, the reservoir itself with its stub. axles serves the extra purpose of being a part of the bracing of the frame.

Still a further object is to provide a cattle oiler, the reservoir of which is not only to serve the purpose of a reservoir and that of a frame bracing element as described, but also to provide a large surface of many square feet for scratching animals and oiling the animals, the area provided being far greater than is the case with oilers using cables and chains for this purpose.

Still another object of the invention .is to provide a cattle oiler that has a cylindrical scratching surface of large area attained by having it disposed around the moving reservoir itself, and in particular, in which the reservoir is cylindrical as makes practical the use of the underside of the reservoir for scratching the backs of the animals and the upper side of the reservoir for scratching the under side of the animals as has not been possible with conical reservoirs of oilers of the prior art.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies an elongated cylindrical casing having closed ends and having stub shafts extended from the ends, a frame for supporting the casing in an upwardly inclined position, hearings in the frame and in which the stub shafts are rotatably mounted, layers of absorbent material covered by wire mesh on the outer surface of the casing, and a spiral tube in the casing and positioned to feed material from the lower end of the casing through an opening in the upper part thereof.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the improved back scratcher and oiler with a roller thereof supported in position for use.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the back scratcher and oiler for cattle, with parts broken away, parts shown in section, and with the parts shown on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view showing the upper part of the combination oiler and scratcher with parts broken away.

FIGURE 4 is also a side elevational view of the upper end of the scratcher and oiler with pants broken away, and showing a cam for preventing rotation of the casing of the scratcher and oiler in one direction. I

FIGURE 5 is a plan view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 showing the upper end of the casing of the oiler and scratcher and with parts shown in section.

While one embodiment of the inventionis illustrated in the above referred to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may 'be found applicable.

in the accompanying drawings, and in the following specification, the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout, and in which the numeral refers to the invention in its entirety, numeral 12 indicating a cylindrical casing having stub shafts 14 and 16 extended from ends 18 and 20 thereof, numeral 22 indicating a spiral tube positioned in the casing, numeral 24 layers of canvas, or the like, providing a cylindrical wall of absorbent material on the outer surface of the casing, numeral 26 wire mesh extended around the canvas, numerals 28 and 30 base rails of a frame for supporting the casing, and numerals 32 and 34 braces connected by a bar 36 for supporting one end of the casing in an elevated position whereby the casing is retained in an inclined position.

The lower end of the casing or elongated cylinder 12 is closed by the end 18 from which the stub shaft 14 extends, and the stub shaft 14 is mounted in a bearing 38 which is supported from the base rails 28 and 30 by struts 40. The struts are secured to the bearing housing by bolts, such as the bolts for the upper end, as shown in FIG- URE 5.

The stub shaft 16 extended from the end 20 at the upper end of the casing is rotatably mounted in a bearing 42 to which upper ends of the braces are connected by bolts 44 and 46, as shown in FIGURE 5. A cam 48 having an arcuate lower end surface 50' is pivotally mounted on the bolt 44 and with the length of the cam slightly greater than the distance from the outer surface of the end 20 to the center or axis of the bolt 44, the cam coacting with the ratchet teeth 52, permits rotation of the casing in one direction and prevents rotation in the opposite direction.

The upper end 54 of the spiral tube 22 opens into an elongated area 56 in the absorbent canvas covering, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, whereby oil from the tube is distributed throughout the absorbent material. The tube 22 is provided with a collar 58 that is positioned on the inside of the casing and the end of the tube is peened outwardly, as shown at the point 60. The upper end of the casing is provided with a band 62 that provides a closure for the area 56, and the ends of the band are provided with flanges 64 through which a bolt 66 extends.

The base rails 28 and 30, braces 32 and 34, and bar 36 are secured together by welding or the like, and these members may be angle irons or of any suitable shape in cross section.

The casing is rotated by cattle rubbing against the surface and the cam permits rotation only in the direction wherein oil is carried upwardly by the coil 22. Each convolution of the coil is provided with an opening 68, and movement of the cam is limited by stops 70 and 72.

Operation The base rails and braces support the roller in an inclined position, and smaller stock, such as hogs rub against the lower end whereas steers and the like engage the upper part, and small cattle engage the intermediate part. With the roller, which forms a tank, filled with oil through a filling plug 74, clockwise rotation of the roller causes oil to be picked up by the lower end of the coil 22 whereby the oil travels upwardly to the open area 56 from which the oil seeps into the absorbent 24. The openings in the convolutions of the coil prevent air locks and assure continuous travel of the oil upwardly in the coil.

The cattle rub against the casing with forward and rearward movements and the casing is rotated with one movement and held stationary by the cam 48 in the reverse movement. By this means the oil is supplied continuously to the absorbent material and oil is applied to the backs of stock as long as oil remains in the cylinder.

The oil is readily replenished through the filling plug and the roller is readily transported from one location to another.

From the foregoing specification it will become apparent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed and 4 in an economical manner and that its simplicity, accuracy, and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively inexpensive device considering what it will accomplish and that it will find an important place in the art to which it appertains when once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings.

Changes in shape, size, and arrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having now described the invention that which is claimed to be new and desired to be procured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A stock oiler and scratcher comprising an elongated cylinder, a wall of absorbent material extended around the outer surface of the cylinder, a frame for supporting the. cylinder in an inclined position, and a spiral tube positioned in the cylinder for conveying material therein from the lower portion to an open area in the wall of absorbent material through an opening in the upper portion whereby material from the cylinder is supplied to the absorbent outer surface.

2. A stock scratcher and oiler comprising an elongated cylinder, a frame for supporting the cylinder in an inclined position and in which the cylinder is rotatably mounted, a covering of absorbent material on the outer surface of the cylinder, a spiral tube having air lock relieving openings in convolutions thereof positioned in the cylinder for conveying material from the lower to the upper end of the cylinder, said tube being extended through an opening in the Wall of the cylinder and positioned to supply material to an open area in said absorbent covering of the cylinder, a band on the upper end of the cylinder positioned on the outer surface of the covering of absorbent material and providing a clo' sure for said open area in the covering, and means for preventing rotation of the cylinder in one direction.

3. A back scratcher and oiler comprising an elongated tube, said tube having ends providing closures and said ends having stub shafts extended therefrom, a supporting frame having base rails with converging braces extended upwardly therefrom for supporting the elongated tube in an inclined position, bearings on converging ends of the base rails and upper ends of the braces in which the stub shafts are rotatably mounted, an absorbent covering on the tube, a spiral tube having openings in the convolutions in the elongated tube and positioned to convey material in the elongated tube upwardly to an open area in said absorbent covering with the elongated tube rotating in one direction, a cover for said open area in the absorbent covering, and means for preventing the elongated tube rotating in the opposite direction.

4. In a cattle scratcher and oiler, the combination which comprises a cylindrical casing having closed ends, stub shafts extended from the ends of the casing, a frame having bearings in which the stub shafts are positioned for supporting the casing in an upwardly inclined position, an absorbent covering having an open area therein positioned on the outer surface of the casing, and a spiral tube having air lock relieving openings in convolutions thereof positioned in the casing, the upper end of the spiral tube opening into the open area of said absorbent material covering the casing whereby material from the cylindrical casing is distributed throughout said absorbent covering.

5. Ina back scratcher and oiler, the combination which comprises an elongated cylindrical casing having closed ends and having stub shafts extended from said ends, a supporting frame having hearings in which the stub shafts are rotatably mounted, said frame supporting the casing in an upwardly inclined position, layers of canvas providing an absorbent cylindrical wall around the casing and said wall having an open area therein, wire mesh 5 6 extended around the canvas, a spiral tube having opencasing to rotate in one direction, and prevent the casing ings in convolutions thereof in the casing and positioned rotating in the opposite direction. with the upper end extended through the wall of the References gated in th3 file of this patent casing and in registering relation With the open area therein for supplying oil from the casing to the absorbent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS cylindrical wall on the outer surface of the casing, a fill- 1,117,851 Hullinger Nov. 17, 1914 ing plug in the upper end of the casing, and a cam at 1,552,846 Kunath Sept. 8, 1925 the upper end of the casing and positioned to permit the 1,720,999 CaWley July 16, 1929 

